How were portrait miniatures worn?

Many portrait miniatures were fitted with loops or rings to function as pendants worn around the neck on ribbons or chains. Others were designed as brooches or kept safely inside fitted travelling cases. Their intimate scale allowed owners to keep likenesses of family members or spouses close to their person during travel or separation.

Why use ivory instead of paper?

Painters selected ivory because its smooth, dense surface accepted microscopic brushwork without absorbing the pigment immediately. This allowed colours to sit on the surface with exceptional brilliance. Furthermore, the pale, creamy undertone of the ivory shone through thin washes of paint, giving flesh tones a glowing, lifelike depth that paper could not replicate.

How do I care for watercolour on ivory?

These pieces require strict protection from direct sunlight, which can fade delicate watercolours and warp or discolour the ivory ground. Stable humidity and temperature prevent the thin ivory slice from cracking. Display them away from heat sources and avoid exposing the interior of the frame to moisture, as the paintings lack modern sealants.

How can I date a miniature?

Clothing, hairstyles, and framing styles provide the most reliable clues for dating portrait miniatures. High Regency collars, specific bonnet shapes, and Regency blue sashes help narrow down the decade of execution. Signatures or contemporary inscriptions on the reverse of the backing card or metal case also offer precise historical markers when present.

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These watercolour on ivory works are intimate portrait miniatures from the Georgian and Regency periods, prized for their delicate detail and personal history.

Miniature Portrait of Lady Godolphin by Jeremiah Steele

19th century

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Miniature Portrait of Lady Godolphin by Jeremiah Steele

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Watercolour on Ivory

Miniature Portrait of Lady Godolphin by Jeremiah Steele

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